Phil was in a bad way through this post-Chicago period, but on this night in Vancouver he sang his way up from the depths. A memorable performance. One I won't forget.
I was just 13 when a local Democratic leader hosted a rally for Gene McCarthy back in '68. Phil Ochs was there and in the middle of this song when he cut it short as Gene arrived. I was dimly aware of the song, having heard it on WFMT's "Midnight Special." Only later did I realize and appreciate what I was so fortunate to have witnessed.
I had the privilege of interviewing him when he played the Ash Grove in L.A. in 1966, and I met him a few times after that over the years. The last time was in about 1972, when his wife and my girlfriend worked together in L.A. He was a sweet, generous man who deserved a better and longer life. I know a number of actors have talked about making a movie of his life, but it never seems to come to fruition. Given that his brother, Michael, is one of the most prolific collectors and archivists of late twentieth-century music, Phil Ochs's contributions should survive for generations to come.
If your not old enough to have seen him play, all I can say is that you missed a very special show because Phill was a very special person to all that knew him or worked with him like I was Lucky enough to have done…..
I saw him several times almost always at demonstrations. I was super active I believed we were going to have a revolution and make it a better and more just world I didn't go to demonstrations to see Phil but his appearances were always a delight. But for me for certain his best performance was one of his most controversial and the one for whom all of the folks who are much more musically literate than I think it was an appalling performance I don't give a flying F..k about the musical acuity never have! it was his passion and the brilliant way hey shared his insights that matter to me. That night he bared his soul, celebrated rock and roll for its revolutionary potential, and called out the racist currents in it. He fought for his audience and lost the majority of it they quickly streamed out as the concert ended and didn't even have the courtesy call for encore. I was up in the balcony at Carnegie Hall had to suffer people whining behind me for Phil to sing old songs. I shared my love of Phil with my sister we were thrilled with this Greatest Hits we loved that he's so generously shared so much of himself . We completely related to and I am sure in many ways were shaped by his take on the world at that time. Indeed my sister signed her yearbooks with "I would be an exile now but everywhere is the same" . But we also very much understood that Phil created that album to save himself. And you could not follow Phil without knowing it mattered to him a whole lot what people thought about his artistry. So I went to that concert alone and pretty scared to be in New York for the first time alone to celebrate Phil and celebrate with him But instead on Good Friday I watched him be pretty much crucified by so much of his audience But then they left and those of us who really got Phil stayed and with him forced Carnegie Hall to turn the power back on and let him do an extended encore. It was brilliant it was rock and roll and we celebrated. And Phil got to know that some of us thoroughly got him. And then he brought Jim Glover up and they did a duet of No More Songs it was as I'm sure it was intended to be hauntingly sad and utterly beautiful and damn if I care if it was musically well executed. Different values motivations and therefore a different take as to his best performance. Like everyone back then I attended a lot of concerts. So many artists pandered to their audiences played them like they played their instruments to build their careers and create followingd Ironically Phil craved adulation as much as the next musician. But thankfully he was incapable of its craven pursuit. He couldn't help but be himself with all of his imperfections but also his huge heart brilliant insight, and insatiable appetite for justice. Thank you Phil
Never be afraid to check your local record stores, kids. Some stuff ain't on the net. I would never have found this gem if I hadn't gotten off itunes and went down to the Haight. I might release more soon, it's a great album.
Please do! Back in the days of Napster I downloaded a bunch of Phil Ochs songs (apparently all from this album) and I've been having the darndest time finding these versions.
I saw Phil play in a Vancouver city park 2 day gathering in the summer of 1970, Don't know why the clips are absent from the internet. At least so far....
I attended the concert. I think it was in support of the Georgia Straight. Allen Ginsberg was there as well. He played finger cymbals on a couple of tunes.
Dear Chrysippus Thanx so much for posting this! I just came across his face which must have been the same one (with snap-brim cap) on his album because I immediately said to myself, "Phil Ochs." I have this uncanny knack for remembering names, etc. I dubbed myself, "The King of Useless Information!" God bless you.
I think this performance is better than any of his other recordings; live, studio, bootleg, et cetera. He puts his soul on a clear display here, and we get to directly hear from the part of the man where his art came from. A true rarity. Not often does an artist reach into themselves and pull out such pure... potential. And it's absolutely beautiful.
I uploaded the rest of the album, as I said I would: ua-cam.com/play/PLplsz1wvZJDHAo9n2JXFh3TLhQD4wjZ-K.html Hey, if you look at it from a big picture perspective, half a decade later is relatively soon, right?
"The Panthers" replaced "The Blacks" from the original version. During the part where he scats over the lyrics, I'm pretty sure he did that rather than the original lyrics as well. Check out the studio version for yourself.
he was found hanging in his home...Michael said" he would never have taken his life" he loved life so much and singing...Nixon, FBI, CIA followed orders from the top
One of the coolest things about this concert was the tuning on his Gibson and the way he played it. It sounded so, so heavy. It really fit his material.
Phil was in a bad way through this post-Chicago period, but on this night in Vancouver he sang his way up from the depths. A memorable performance. One I won't forget.
I was just 13 when a local Democratic leader hosted a rally for Gene McCarthy back in '68. Phil Ochs was there and in the middle of this song when he cut it short as Gene arrived. I was dimly aware of the song, having heard it on WFMT's "Midnight Special." Only later did I realize and appreciate what I was so fortunate to have witnessed.
I had the privilege of interviewing him when he played the Ash Grove in L.A. in 1966, and I met him a few times after that over the years. The last time was in about 1972, when his wife and my girlfriend worked together in L.A. He was a sweet, generous man who deserved a better and longer life. I know a number of actors have talked about making a movie of his life, but it never seems to come to fruition. Given that his brother, Michael, is one of the most prolific collectors and archivists of late twentieth-century music, Phil Ochs's contributions should survive for generations to come.
♥️This Classic 🎼
&
The Late Great Phil Ochs!
A very sad loss of such a exceptional talent!
Thank You Phil🙏🏼
for being that Voice
when it was needed!
He was the greatest folk singer of all time.
If your not old enough to have seen him play, all I can say is that you missed a very special
show because Phill was a very special person to all that knew him or worked with him like I was Lucky enough to have done…..
I saw him three times. Berkeley Community Theater '68 and "70. Earle of Old Towne, Chicago '73. Always incredible.
I saw him several times almost always at demonstrations. I was super active I believed we were going to have a revolution and make it a better and more just world I didn't go to demonstrations to see Phil but his appearances were always a delight.
But for me for certain his best performance was one of his most controversial and the one for whom all of the folks who are much more musically literate than I think it was an appalling performance I don't give a flying F..k about the musical acuity never have! it was his passion and the brilliant way hey shared his insights that matter to me. That night he bared his soul, celebrated rock and roll for its revolutionary potential, and called out the racist currents in it. He fought for his audience and lost the majority of it they quickly streamed out as the concert ended and didn't even have the courtesy call for encore.
I was up in the balcony at Carnegie Hall had to suffer people whining behind me for Phil to sing old songs.
I shared my love of Phil with my sister we were thrilled with this Greatest Hits we loved that he's so generously shared so much of himself . We completely related to and I am sure in many ways were shaped by his take on the world at that time. Indeed my sister signed her yearbooks with "I would be an exile now but everywhere is the same" . But we also very much understood that Phil created that album to save himself. And you could not follow Phil without knowing it mattered to him a whole lot what people thought about his artistry. So I went to that concert alone and pretty scared to be in New York for the first time alone to celebrate Phil and celebrate with him
But instead on Good Friday I watched him be pretty much crucified by so much of his audience
But then they left and those of us who really got Phil stayed and with him forced Carnegie Hall to turn the power back on and let him do an extended encore. It was brilliant it was rock and roll and we celebrated. And Phil got to know that some of us thoroughly got him.
And then he brought Jim Glover up and they did a duet of No More Songs it was as I'm sure it was intended to be hauntingly sad and utterly beautiful and damn if I care if it was musically well executed.
Different values motivations and therefore a different take as to his best performance.
Like everyone back then I attended a lot of concerts. So many artists pandered to their audiences played them like they played their instruments to build their careers and create followingd
Ironically Phil craved adulation as much as the next musician. But thankfully he was incapable of its craven pursuit. He couldn't help but be himself with all of his imperfections but also his huge heart brilliant insight, and insatiable appetite for justice.
Thank you Phil
One of the best period pieces ever, worth reviving ever few years.
gave me a lot of hope back when i was a lost high school boy wish i could have sent him some for that tough day
Love his music!
My vote for greatest American (folk) musician
What a good version
It is by far the best performance he ever recorded.
@@stickerino Absolutely.
Never be afraid to check your local record stores, kids. Some stuff ain't on the net. I would never have found this gem if I hadn't gotten off itunes and went down to the Haight.
I might release more soon, it's a great album.
Please do! Back in the days of Napster I downloaded a bunch of Phil Ochs songs (apparently all from this album) and I've been having the darndest time finding these versions.
What on the tracklist do you still need?
I saw Phil play in a Vancouver city park 2 day gathering in the summer of 1970, Don't know why the clips are absent from the internet. At least so far....
I attended the concert. I think it was in support of the Georgia Straight. Allen Ginsberg was there as well. He played finger cymbals on a couple of tunes.
@@Orpheus038 I only remember hearing them on 'The Bells'.
Dear Chrysippus Thanx so much for posting this! I just came across his face which must have been the same one (with snap-brim cap) on his album because I immediately said to myself, "Phil Ochs." I have this uncanny knack for remembering names, etc. I dubbed myself, "The King of Useless Information!" God bless you.
My favorite version.
I think this performance is better than any of his other recordings; live, studio, bootleg, et cetera. He puts his soul on a clear display here, and we get to directly hear from the part of the man where his art came from. A true rarity. Not often does an artist reach into themselves and pull out such pure... potential.
And it's absolutely beautiful.
I uploaded the rest of the album, as I said I would: ua-cam.com/play/PLplsz1wvZJDHAo9n2JXFh3TLhQD4wjZ-K.html
Hey, if you look at it from a big picture perspective, half a decade later is relatively soon, right?
It still counts!! We totally appreciate it, thank you for sharing
Somehow I get the feeling that the reference to “the Panthers” was subliminal if not intended.
"The Panthers" replaced "The Blacks" from the original version. During the part where he scats over the lyrics, I'm pretty sure he did that rather than the original lyrics as well. Check out the studio version for yourself.
10,000 views!
congratulations, you won!
So why isn't Phil in the R&RHOF ? Way past due ! ! { Unrelated - how about Suzie Quatro in the HOF also. . . ? } Two very great oversights IMO !
Phil isn't on any acclaimed 'Hall of Fame' type lists because he fought a fight that we are still fighting.
he was found hanging in his home...Michael said" he would never have taken his life" he loved life so much and singing...Nixon, FBI, CIA followed orders from the top
Forget the lyrics, Phil?
Well, he DID warn us it might be a possibility…
Not likely.
I love how out of tune his guitar is.
One of the coolest things about this concert was the tuning on his Gibson and the way he played it. It sounded so, so heavy. It really fit his material.